Machine for manufacturing channel-pins.



No. 821,556. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906. H. H. VAUGHAN.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING CHANNEL PINS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21.1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1. .5

ANDREW u. cmum 00., mom-umoammms, wAsum-smu. u, c

No. 821,556. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

' H. H. VAUGHAN.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING CHANNEL PINS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21.1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

e7- wa /W 4 W witzarizeya No. 821,556. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

H. H. VAUGHAN. MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING CHANNEL PINS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21.1902.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

lllllll Wi wam/ea, Ewen i072 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY H. VAUGHAN,

or cLEvELAND, orno,

ASSIGNOR TO THE RAIL- ILLINOIS.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING CHANNEL-PINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed June 21, 1902. Serial No. 112,683.

To all whom it mar concern.-

' Be it known that I, HENRY H. VAUGHAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oleveland, county of Ouyahoga, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Machines for Manufacturing Channel-Pins; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descri tion of the same, such as will enable others s illed in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates generally to a machine for making tapered pins, and more particularly to manufacturing channel-pins for electrically connecting the ends of wire bonds to adjoining railroad-rails.

In connecting small electrical conductors to relatively large conductors it is customary to retain the ends of the small conductor in holes formed in the large conductor by means of wedge-shaped pins. In the art of railroad signaling, for instance, the adjoining ends of rails areelectrically connected by wire bonds, between the ends of which and the rails are interposed channel-pins. Itis customary to provide holes through the webs or bases of the rails, in which the ends of the wire bonds are secured. Preferably tapered channelpins are employed which partially surround the ends of the bonds and which when driven in the holes in the rails securely unite the bonds to the rails and form electrical connections of the requisite capacity. It is essential that the pins should be tapered, so as to be driven readily into the holes in the rails, and at the same time be of such cross-section that when driven into the rails they will be folded closely around and tightly engage the ends of the bonds.

' The object of my invention is to provide a machine for tapering the end of a rod having the desired cross-section and shearing off a portion of the rod the predetermined length of the pin. A further object of my invention is to provide a machine for quickly and economically manufacturing tapered pins which will be simple in construction and efficient in opera tion.

My invention, generally described, consists in a vertically-movable die cooperating with a fixed die to bevel upwardly the under sur face of the end of the rod, a pair of horizontally-movable dies to taper the exterior surface of the end of the rod, and a shearingknife for cutting off a portion of the rod the predetermined length of the pin.

My invention will be more fully described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which-- Figure 1 is a front elevation view of my improved machine; Fig. 2, a front elevation view of the frame separate from the parts supported thereby; Fig. 3, a central sectional view taken on line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; larged sectional view through one of the cross-heads for supporting one of the horizontally-movable dies; Fig. 5, an enlarged elevational view of the dies; Fig. 6, a side elevational view of the vertically-movable die and one of the horizontally-movable dies, and Fig. 7 a plan view of the horizontallymovable dies and the stationary die.

Similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Reference character A indicates the sup porting-frame of the machine, which may be conveniently supported upon pairs of legs B and B. Each pair of legs, as shown in Fig. 3, is bolted to the under side of the frame A and also to the floor. The frame A is provided with bearings A A, in which is journaled a power-shaft O The portions A" of the bear ings beneath the shaft C are preferably adjustable upon the frame A by means of set screws a", as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Bushings 1/ preferably surround the shaft C between the same and the bearings. Oneend of the shaft C is provided with means for communicating power thereto-as, for in stance, a belt-pulley D. A gear-Wheel D is fixed upon the shaft C adjacent to the beltpulley D. The end of the shaft C opposite the bell-pulley is provided with a crank c, which is surrounded by a strap secured to the upper end" of a' connecting-rod e. The lower end of the connecting-rod e is pivotally secured to a cross-head E. The cross Fig. l, an en head E engages guides E adjustablysupported upon the frame A. The guides E are provided with openings loosely surrounding pins e, secured in openings 0, in the parallel flanges A A projecting from the front of the frame A, as shown in Fig. 2. The parallel flanges A A are provided with lugs a a eX- tending beyond the surfaces thereof. Setscrews 6 e are supported in the lugs a a and bear against the ing the positions of the latter, such adjustment being permitted by the play between the pins 6 e and the surrounding holes in the guides.

Two shafts C and C parallel to the shaft C are journaled in the opposite sides of the frame A in a horizontal plane below the plane of the shaft C. Bearings similar to those provided for the shaft C are also provided for the shafts C and C Secured to the ends of the shafts C and C are gear-wheels D and D which mesh with the gear-wheel D on the shaft C. The ends of the shafts C and C opposite the gear-wheels are provided with cranks c and 0 respectively. These cranks are surrounded by straps secured to the ends of connecting-rods e and 6 The opposite ends of the connecting-rods e and e are pivotally secured to cross-heads E and E The cross heads are supported by guides similar to the guides above described in connection with the cross-head E. The parallel guides E E are supported upon the frame A by means of pins e, fixed in openings a in parallel flanges A A, formed on the frame A. The parallel flanges are provided with outwardly-projecting lugs a, in which are located set-screws e e", which engage the guides E E to adjust the latter with respect to, the cross-head E Guides E E are secured to the parallel flanges A A of the frame A by means of pins (2, loosely located in openings in the guides. The parallel flanges A are provided with lugs M, in which are located set-screws 6 which engage and adjust the guides E relative to the cross-head E The connecting-rods 6, e and e are preferably adjustable in length by means of turnbuckles in a well-known manner. Bushings c are preferably interposed between the straps on the ends of the connecting-rods and the respective cranks.

The inner ends of the cross-heads E and E support castings F and F in which are mounted dies f 2 and f Set-screwsf are provided for securing the dies within the recesses in the castings, as clearly shown in the drawings. The castings may be conven iently secured to the ends of the cross-heads by means of screws F. The vertical faces of the dies f 2 andf are provided with recesses corresponding in shape to the desired contour of the pin which is to be manufactured.

The lower face of the cross-head E supports a casting F by means of screws F passguides E E thereby adjust-v ing through flanges on the casting and into the end of the cross-head. A Vertical passage is formed at the center of the lower portion of the casting F, as shown in Fig. 5, in which are inserted a die f and a shearingknife g. The shearing-knife extends below the lower surface of the-die f, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Keeper-bars G and G are secured to the front and back faces of the lower portion, of the casting F by means of screws 9. A set-screw f extends through the keeper-plate G and engages the front surface of the knife g and retains the latter in the casting F and also retains the die f between the back vertical surface of the knife and the front surface of the keeper G 1 To the front face of the projecting portion A, formed on the frame A, is secured a casting F provided with a vertical dovetail channel. Located Within the dovetail channel is a dief. A groove f 6 extends along the upper surface of the die the casting F and the adjacent portion A of the frame. A keeper a is secured above the portion A of the frame and is provided with a groove in its under surface registering with the groovef. The portion of the groove f 6 formed in the die f is inclined upwardly, as indicated in Fig. 6.

A bracket H, substantially of an inverted- V shape, is secured to the portion A of the frame by means of bolts H passing through the lower ends of the bracket and into the portion A of the frame. Collars or spools a surround the bolts H between the brackets H and the front surface of the frame, thereby spacing the bracket the desired distance in front of the frame. At the top of the bracket H is provided an opening, through which passes a screw-threaded stop h, which ma be adjusted in the bracket and locked at the desired position by means of nuts 7t, as is shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The operation of my improved machine is as follows: The rod which is to be used in manufacturing the pins, which may be of U-shaped cross-section when channel-pins are to be made, is inserted in the groove f", so that the end of the rod is flush with the outer vertical face of the stationary die f. The rotation of the shaft C by means of power applied to the belt-pulley D reciprocates the cross-head through the interposed connecting-rod e and crank c. The downward movement of the cross-head E carries the die f into engagement with the portion of the rod immediately. above the stationary die f and casting F The inclination of the groove f 6 in the die causes the under surface of the end of the rod to be beveled upwardly when subjected to compression between the movable die f and the cooperating fixed die. The rod is then slid through the groove f 6 until it engages the inner end of the adjustable stop it. The rotation of the shafts C and C through the engagement of the gear-wheels l) and'D with the gear D reciprocates the cross-heads E and E toward and away from each other. The movement of the cross-heads toward the center brings the dies f and f into proximity to each other. The recesses formed in the faces of the dies surround the projecting portion of the rod and compress the same, thereby imparting thereto a contour-corresponding to the shape of the recessesin the dies. The continued rotation of the shafts C and C one hundred and eighty degrees moves the dies away from each other and permits the shearing-knife g to pass downwardly adja cent to the vertical face of the stationary die f thereby shearing off the portion of the rod projecting beyond the front edge of the stationary die. The continued downward movement of the cross-head E causes the die f to engage the end of the rod adjacent to the severed portion and impart thereto an upward bevel through the compression exerted by the die f and the stationary die The rod is again slid through the groove 6 into contact with the stop h, and the continued rotation of the several shafts elevates the cross-head E, and with it the die f and shearing-knife 9, out of the path of movement of the horizontal-dies f 2 and f which then engage and compress the projecting portion of the rod. The length of the pin may be regulated by adjusting the stop h within the bracket H.

The relation between the cranks 0, c and c is such that the machine may operate continuously without any interference between the horizontally-movable dies and the vertically-movable die and shearing-knife. It is only necessary that the rod should be fed through the groove f each time a section is sheared off in order that the machine may make pins without intermission.

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented an improved machine for manufacturing tapered pins, more especially channel-pins, by subjecting the end of the rod to compression first in one direction and subsequently in a different direction and then shearing off a portion of the rod the desired length of the pin.

While I have described more or less precisely the details of construction, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto, as I contemplate changes in form, the proportion of parts, and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit of my invention. 7

Having now fully described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a pair of cooperating relatively movable dies, a stationary die, a third movable die cooperating with the stationary die, a shearing-knife cooperating with said stationary die, and means for operating said movable dies and said knife whereby said pair of movable dies are moved apart and coincidently said third movable die and said shearing-knife are moved toward said stationary die.

2. In a machine of the character described,

the combination with a pair of reciprocating cooperating dies, a stationary die located in a plane out of but adjacent to the path of movement of said pair of dies, a third reciprocating die the path of movement of which is in alinement with said stationary die, a shearing-knife cooperating with said stationary die and movable in a path intercepting the path of movement of said pair of dies, and means for operating said reciprocating dies and said knife.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a pair of cooperating relatively movable dies guided on said frame, an upwardly-inclined stationary die mounted upon said frame and located out of the plane of movement of said pair of dies, a third movable die cooperating with said stationary die and guided upon said frame, a shearing-knife movable with said last-mentioned die and having a path of movement adjacent to said stationary die, and means for operating said movable dies and said knife.

4:. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of rotatable shafts journaled in said frame, cranks on the corresponding ends of said shafts, meshed gear-wheels secured to the opposite ends of said shafts, crossheads operatively connected to said cranks, guides for said cross-heads adjustably secured to said frame, a pair of cooperating dies secured to a pair of said cross-heads, an upwardly-inclined stationary die mounted upon said frame, a third movable die cooperating with said stationary die and secured to another of said crossheads, and a belt-pulley secured to one of said shafts for rotating the same.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the'presence of two witnesses.

HENRY H. VAUGHAN.

Witnesses:

PAUL C. OADY, F. A. DUNN. 

